Summary Of The Condition Of Black Life Is One Of Mourning By Claudia Rankine

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In Claudia Rankine’s piece “The Condition of Black Life Is One of Mourning”, she discusses how African American women, whom are mothers or are expecting, feel living in this country. Rankine asked one friend, “What’s it like being the mother of a black son”, and her response was, “The condition of black life is one of mourning”. This response shows that African Americans feel mourning all day everyday. They feel that there is no escape or way out, and just learn to live with constantly being aware of what is going on around you. These women worry on a regular basis not only about themselves, but the precious lives that they have brought into this world. Motherhood is supposed to be centered around happiness, joy, and just simply something that …show more content…

Then, fifty some odd years later, nine more African Americans were killed in a church shooting. Although Claudia herself was not a part of these events, she is very well aware of them and all that occurred during these times. Pathos is seen throughout her work, but is very prominent in the beginning of the piece. Rankine pulls her audience in by beginning with the point of view of African American mothers in this country. Rankine makes sure her readers see the struggles that these mothers deal with on a daily basis. By struggles, she is referring to the anxiety, anxiousness, and fear these mothers have for their child each time they walk out into public; Each time they walk into the unknown. Logos is observed throughout Rankine’s work with reference to Dylann Roof. How his actions were seen as wrong, but not seen to the full extent. He was just seen as a “disturbed young man”. He was seen as this because he is a white man living in America. White supremacy is very real and we cannot run from it. Roof, as well as many other white men living in America, have seen many others be convicted and pled guilty to crimes they have

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